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BLONDEL'S BACK

Chris Hughton is pleased to see Jonathan Blondel showing some of his true potential at Club Brugge.

Chris Hughton is pleased to see Jonathan Blondel showing some of his true potential at Club Brugge.

The talented midfielder arrived at Spurs from Excelsior Mouscron age the tender age of 18 back in the summer of 2002 but failed to settle in his new environment and returned home to Belgium and Club Brugge in 2004. He made four appearances for us in all competitions.

Now 22, Blondel returns to the Lane with Club Brugge and is expected to start Thursday night's UEFA Cup group stage encounter.

Chris said: "I remember him fondly. It was very difficult for Jonathan when he came in. Sometimes you get a lad who is 18 but looks 20, whereas Jonathan was 18 but if anything looked younger and even now, he's still very fresh faced. I'm sure he'll be grateful for that the older he gets!

"We saw the potential in him here but it was difficult for him. He was very young, a quiet lad and found it tough to settle and it was almost inevitable that he would benefit from a move back home.

"He's a talent, a left-footed player and for all we've just said, he was always very tenacious in the challenge. We had a few problems determining his best position in a 4-4-2, whether it was wider or central. We always wanted him to be more involved in games but seeing him play for Club Brugge left of centre in midfield, that seems to suit him best.

"I think it was perhaps all too soon for him and if he'd come in a couple of years later, it might have been a different story."